Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower open on Thursday, as markets were jittery ahead of highly anticipated comments by the Federal Reserve’s Chairman Ben Bernanke on the bank’s next policy moves.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.13% fall, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.16% decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.29% loss.
Markets were eyeing the outcome of the Fed’s policy meeting later Thursday, amid growing speculation that the U.S. central bank may implement a third round of quantitative easing to bolster growth.
Meanwhile, sentiment remained mildly supported after Germany’s constitutional court approved the country’s participation in the euro zone’s bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism.
The ruling cleared the way for Germany’s president to ratify the ESM under certain conditions, allowing the European Central Bank’s bond purchasing program to proceed.
Apple was likely to remain in focus, one day after unveiling newest iPhone, the iPhone5, which has a bigger screen, a faster chip and access to speedier wireless networks.
The company also introduced some new iPods. Shares in the tech giant were up 0.33% in pre-market trade.
Two other tech companies, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, dropped 0.60% and 0.77% respectively in early trading after Citigroup lowered its recommendations on both firms.
Aerospace and defense giant Boeing was also set to be active, after French and U.K. rivals, EADS and BAE Systems, announced that they were in talks about a potential merger to build an equal to Boeing that would balance civil and defense operations.
Commenting on the announcement, Boeing officials said a merger that would transform rival EADS into the world’s biggest aerospace business may be intended to win more sales in the U.S., the largest defense market. Shares in Boeing were up 0.45% in after-hour trade.
Oil stocks were also slated to move on Thursday, beginning with Chesapeake, who sold on Wednesday USD6.9 billion in oil and gas drilling, leasehold, pipeline and terminal assets deemed as “non-core”.
Elsewhere, Abercrombie & Fitch was expected to be in focus amid reports activist investor Ralph Whitworth asked the company to cut back on spending and opening international stores.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 0.60%, France’s CAC 40 declined 0.70%, Germany's DAX fell 0.34%, while Britain's FTSE 100 dipped 0.02%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.14%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.39%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish government data on producer price inflation, as well as a weekly report on initial jobless claims.
The Federal Reserve was to announce its benchmark interest rate, followed by comments by Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.13% fall, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.16% decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.29% loss.
Markets were eyeing the outcome of the Fed’s policy meeting later Thursday, amid growing speculation that the U.S. central bank may implement a third round of quantitative easing to bolster growth.
Meanwhile, sentiment remained mildly supported after Germany’s constitutional court approved the country’s participation in the euro zone’s bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism.
The ruling cleared the way for Germany’s president to ratify the ESM under certain conditions, allowing the European Central Bank’s bond purchasing program to proceed.
Apple was likely to remain in focus, one day after unveiling newest iPhone, the iPhone5, which has a bigger screen, a faster chip and access to speedier wireless networks.
The company also introduced some new iPods. Shares in the tech giant were up 0.33% in pre-market trade.
Two other tech companies, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, dropped 0.60% and 0.77% respectively in early trading after Citigroup lowered its recommendations on both firms.
Aerospace and defense giant Boeing was also set to be active, after French and U.K. rivals, EADS and BAE Systems, announced that they were in talks about a potential merger to build an equal to Boeing that would balance civil and defense operations.
Commenting on the announcement, Boeing officials said a merger that would transform rival EADS into the world’s biggest aerospace business may be intended to win more sales in the U.S., the largest defense market. Shares in Boeing were up 0.45% in after-hour trade.
Oil stocks were also slated to move on Thursday, beginning with Chesapeake, who sold on Wednesday USD6.9 billion in oil and gas drilling, leasehold, pipeline and terminal assets deemed as “non-core”.
Elsewhere, Abercrombie & Fitch was expected to be in focus amid reports activist investor Ralph Whitworth asked the company to cut back on spending and opening international stores.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 0.60%, France’s CAC 40 declined 0.70%, Germany's DAX fell 0.34%, while Britain's FTSE 100 dipped 0.02%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.14%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.39%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish government data on producer price inflation, as well as a weekly report on initial jobless claims.
The Federal Reserve was to announce its benchmark interest rate, followed by comments by Chairman Ben Bernanke.